The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Fantasy. 383 Pages. 5 Stars
And just because I want to, here are two more cover editions. (The above is the cover of the book I have reread it by many times and actually own.) The first is the original cover, the one I first read it by, which holds a special place in my heart and is enchanting in its own right. The second is the most recent cover, which I strangely find quite captivating. Typically, I abhor cover updates, but I kind of like the ones for this series.
Synopsis:
Anidora-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s incredible stories, and learning the language of the birds. Little knowing how valuable her aunt’s strange knowledge would prove to be when she grew older. From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become a queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible, original and magical tale of a girl who must understand her own incredible talents before she can overcome those who wish her harm.
My Review:
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I’ve read it countless times and will continue to read it over and over and over again until the day I die.
First of all, The Goose Girl by the Brothers Grimm is one of my favorite fairy tales. Shannon Hale has managed to take the original tale and spin one of her own. She transformed the classic tale into something completely new without uprooting it or discarding it’s originality. This story is entirely Goose Girl and at the same time entirely Shannon Hale. In my book, Hale has done the original tale far more than justice. She expanded it and grew it to this beautiful novel.
Mrs. Hale’s world building in this book is phenomenal. She’s crafted a world rich in culture and incredible laws of nature. The writing style lends to the ancient feel of the history of this world. She stirs in the reader a yearning for what once was, what now seems nearly lost until Ani faces her story. The lands are individual, complete with contrasting customs, fears, and beliefs. Hale expertly weaves these concerns into the plot and into the very root of the characters themselves.
The writing in this book is possibly one of my very favorite things in the whole world. Hale writes beautifully. She uses a language that bends to her world and such vivid imagery that lights a fire in the mind’s eye. Not only is Hale an excellent writer technically, but her style and voice make this book the unique piece that it is. The writing draws me into this book and fascinates me to no end!
I adore the characters in The Goose Girl. They are complex, with multifaceted motivations and emotions. Ani struggles with taking courage verses hiding and staying safe. She wrestles with living up to her ideal image of a ruler, her mother. She has to learn to trust and love in a world that has shown her disappointment and betrayal after disappointment and betrayal. Ani faces decisions that impact the lives around her and the nations around her. And she has a freaking fantastic supporting cast. Gilsa, Finn, Enna, and Conrad make me straight up giddy. Geric, Talone, and Falada fill my heart. Selia and Ungolad, Ishta and Yulan make my heart beat faster and my feet yearn to run beside Ani. The characters in this story are the stuff of legends. They show what it means to be a true friend and the villains are just as captivating. I love watching these characters learn and grow.
Now, for the content. This is not a children’s story. There are some violent scenes, though not so many as to overwhelm the story. The book is well-balanced. Even in the three or so scenes there are (I can really only think of two major ones), the violence isn’t Kill Bill. There are some mildly graphic descriptions of blood and death. It is part of the story, but I think Hale does a wonderful job of writing in moderation while still managing to get her point across. To that end, there is one, single word in the entire book that could possibly be considered a foul word. Personally, I don’t consider it as such because in the context Hale uses the word, it is not a curse word. The word is used as it was historically intended to be used. The romance is very mild, but still satisfying. There’s a single kiss at the end of the book. However, there is one paragraph that briefly alludes to nudity. Again, I personally don’t have an issue with this because it is given as an etiology. The paragraph is a story that a character tells to explain a Bayern war tradition. That’s it. And it has no bearing on the plot, so if you are uncomfortable with the idea, skip the paragraph after “Vanquished” and don’t let that stop you from enjoying this total gem of a story.
This story explores themes of deep-rooted loyalty, discovering self-worth, and fighting for the truth no matter the odds. I love the pursuit of nobility no matter the cost, the idea that true friends are priceless, and the knowledge that we each are created individually and with unique gifts but that we still need each other, community and companionship. These are what draw me to this book. Not only does the book follow the original tale perfectly, but the expanded plot elements are just intriguing, at least to me. I mean, Hale takes this already great story, dips its toes into an incredible world full of magical characters and themes that run as deep as the trenches in the oceans, and then lets the reader soar on the masterpiece. This is a timeless tale and the sequels are just as riveting! This, this, is why Hale holds such a high place on my shelves.
More:
The second Book of Bayern is Enna Burning (5 Stars)
The third is River Secrets (4 Stars)
The fourth is Forest Born (5 Stars)
I have reviewed each of the above on Goodreads. Follow the links to find more info on the books.
This series should be read in order.
On GraceBought
See my thoughts on the next book in the series!
This makes me want to read this again! I didn’t know it was a whole series.
Yeah, I read it when Enna Burning was out. Found them in my high school library. Then River Secrets came out so, of course, I read it too! I think maybe it was originally just going to be those three cause Forest Born came out quite a bit later if I remember correctly. It was an EXCELLENT conclusion, though. The first two are probably my favorite.
How is it a series? Just the same setting or does it follow the same characters?
It’s a bit of both. Book 2 follows Enna, who is Ana/Isi’s best friend in Book 1. Book 3 follows Razo, another of their friends, as an ambassador to a neighboring company, and Book 4 follows Rin, who is Razo’s younger sister, if I remember correctly. I don’t believe we meet her until Book 4 though. Each book also introduces a new form of speaking; for instance, Enna Burning introduces the element of fire.